Method for inhibiting or controlling inorganic scale formations

Abstract

A formulation containing a copolymer derived from a cationic monomer effectively inhibits and controls the formation of inorganic scales. The formulation has particular application in the removal of zinc sulfide and iron sulfide scales formed when zinc bromide brines are used as completion fluids. The copolymer exhibit high solubility in high-density brines, such as zinc bromide brines. The polymers may be introduced into an oil or gas well as a portion of a carrier fluid or with brine. The preferred copolymer for use in the invention contains an acrylamide unit and a diallyldimethylammonium salt and, optionally, an acrylic acid or a salt thereof. The weight average molecular weight of such inhibitor copolymers is generally between from about 500,000 to about 5,000,000.

1. A method for inhibiting or controlling inorganic scale formations in a subterranean formation or in a wellbore, comprising pumping downhole a copolymer comprising:
 quaternary ammonium salt; and 
 an acrylamide unit 
 
       wherein the inorganic scale formations are zinc sulfide or iron sulfide scale formations. 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the quaternary ammonium salt is selected from the group consisting of dialkyldiallylammonium salt, polyvinyl benzyl trialkyl ammonium salts, salts of polyepichlorohydrin quaternized with trialkyl amine, polymethacrylamidopropyltrialkyl ammonium salts, polymethacryloyloxyethyltrialkyl ammonium salts, and polymethacryloyloxyethyl dialkyl hydroxyalkyl ammonium salt. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the quaternary ammonium salt is a dialkyldiallylammonium salt. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the dialkyldiallylammonium salt is a dimethyldiallylammonium salt. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the dimethyldiallylammonium salt is dimethyldiallylammonium chloride. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the acrylamide unit is acrylamide. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the molar ratio of acrylamide unit:diallyldimethylammonium salt is between from about 1:5 to about 5:1. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the molar ratio of acrylamide unit:diallyldimethylammonium salt is from about 1:1 to about 3:1. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the quaternary ammonium salt is a polyvinyl benzyl trialkyl ammonium salt. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the polyvinyl benzyl trialkyl ammonium salt is polyvinyl benzyl trimethyl ammonium salt. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the acrylamide unit is selected from the group consisting of acrylamide, (meth)acrylamide, diacetone acrylamide or N-methylolacrylamide. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the acrylamide unit is acrylamide. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the copolymer is pumped downhole as a component of a carrier fluid. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the copolymer is pumped downhole as part of a brine. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the brine contains calcium bromide, zinc bromide, calcium chloride or a combination thereof or sodium bromide. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the copolymer is pumped downhole as a component of a fracturing fluid. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the copolymer is pumped downhole as a component of an acidizing fluid. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the copolymer further comprises an acrylic acid unit. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the acrylic acid unit is acrylic acid, (meth)acrylic acid or a salt thereof. 
     
     
       20. A method for inhibiting or controlling inorganic scale formations in a subterranean formation or in a wellbore, comprising pumping downhole a copolymer comprising:
 quaternary ammonium salt; and 
 an acrylamide unit, 
 
       wherein the weight average molecular weight of the copolymer is between from about 500,000 to about 5,000,000 and wherein the inorganic scale formations are zinc sulfide or iron sulfide scale formations. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the copolymer is pumped downhole as a component of a carrier fluid. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the copolymer is pumped downhole as a component of a brine. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the copolymer is pumped downhole as a component of a fracturing fluid. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the copolymer is pumped downhole as a component of an acidizing fluid. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the copolymer is soluble in a brine having a density greater than or equal to 14.0 lb/gal. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the quaternary ammonium salt is selected from the group consisting of a polyvinyl benzyl trialkyl ammonium salt and a salt of polyepichlorohydrin quaternized with trialkyl amine. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the quaternary ammonium salt is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl benzyl trimethyl ammonium salts, salts of polyepichlorohydrin quaternized with trimethyl amine, polymethacrylamidopropyltrimethyl ammonium salts, polymethacryloyloxyethyltrimethyl ammonium salts and polymethacryloyloxyethyl dimethyl hydroxyethyl ammonium salts. 
     
     
       28. A method for inhibiting or controlling inorganic scale formations in a subterranean formation or in a wellbore, comprising pumping downhole a copolymer comprising:
 quaternary ammonium salt; and 
 an acrylamide unit, 
 wherein the copolymer is a block or random copolymer and wherein the inorganic scale formations are zinc sulfide or iron sulfide scale formations. 
 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 28 , wherein the copolymer is a block copolymer composed of blocks of polyacrylamide and polydiallyldimethylammonium salt and, optionally, blocks of polyacrylic acid or a sodium salt thereof. 
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 28 , wherein the copolymer is a random copolymer composed of units of acrylamide and diallyldimethylammonium salt and, optionally, acrylic acid or a sodium salt thereof. 
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 28 , wherein the copolymer is a terpolymer of acrylamide, diallyldimethylammonium salt and acrylic acid or a salt thereof and further wherein the weight ratio of acrylamide:diallyldimethylammonium salt:acrylic acid is about 1:1:1. 
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 28 , wherein the copolymer is pumped downhole as a component of a carrier fluid or brine.